Phonograph



y 1939- P, H. SMYTH, JR 7 2,159,834

PHONOGRAPH Filed May 18, 1936 s Sheets-Sheefl May 23, 1939. P. H. SMYTH. JR

PHONOGRAPH Filed May 18, 1936 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 III May 23, 1939. P. H. SMYTH, JR 2,159,334

FHONOGRAPH Filed May 18, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 23, 1939. P. H. SMYTH, JR 2,159,834

PHOINOGRAPHY Filed May 18, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 23, 1939. P. H. SMYTH, JR

PHONOGRAPH Filed May 18, 1936 8 Shets-Sheet 7 May 23, 1939. P. H. SMYTH. JR 2,159,834

- PHONOGRAPH Filed May 18, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I I H Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED [STATES PHONOGRAPH Paul H. Smyth, Jr., Evanston, Ill., assignor to Rock-01a Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 18, 1936, Serial No. 80,251

18 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs, and has for a general object the provision of a novel and an improved multi-record phonograph capable of playing a plurality of records in any desired sequence, that is to say, selectively, or some or all of the records in the order of their arrangement, that is to say, in a predetermined sequence.

Another object of the invention is the provision of generally simplified record changing apparatus for such phonograph, which is adapted to lock each record carrier in position at both ends of its travel to and from delivery position.

, A further object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of record carrier latching members which are selectively or successively operable to release the record carriers and to couple the released record carriers with a swingable jmember for movement to and from record delivery positions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved selector and selector control for multi-record phonographs.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of the novel arrangements and combina tions hereinafter disclosed and claimed, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters relate to corresponding parts throughout the several views, and

wherein: p

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of a phonograph embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, but at a different scale;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the novel record changing apparatus with a record carrier in delivery position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines fld of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan section taken substantially along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detached plan view, partially in cross section, of a part of the control apparatus of the illustrated phonograph;

phonograph control apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 3; 50 Fig. 9 is a cross section taken substantially along the lines 9'9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken substantially along the lines. l0l0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is'a cross sectional detail substantially as along the lines ll|l of Fig. 10;- 1

Fig. '7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the,

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional detail substantially along the lines I2l2 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a 'cross section taken substantially along the lines l3l3 of Fig. 3, but at a different scale; 5

Fig. 14 is a cross section taken substantially along the lines M-Ml of Fig. 3, but at a different scale;

Fig. 15 is a detail cross section taken substantially along the lines lE-iE of Fig. 10;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, of the phonograph apparatus in nonplaying position;

Fig. 1'7 shows a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 16 and illustrates the operationof releasing a record carrier and coupling is to a swin able member;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 16 and shows the apparatus with a record carrier in delivery position;

Fig. 19 is afragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines lQ-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary detail section taken substantially along the lines 2020 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 21 is a detail cross section taken substantially along the lines 2 i-2i of Fig. 8.

The illustrated phonograph is of the type disclosed in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,004,016 and my United States letters patent application Serial No. 22,701, filed May 22, 1935, and is an improvement. over that disclosed in United States Letters patent application of Benjamin F. Wupper and James A. Davis, Serial No. 47,656, filed October 25, 1935, now Patent No. 2,125,706. Since certain elements,-assemblies, and arrangements of the phonograph have already been described in the above mentioned applications, they will not be described herein in detail, but will be briefly explained in a general manner.

40 General As shown in Fig. l, the phonograph comprises a casing or cabinet A of suitable construction for accommodating a chassis or frame B, amplifier means C, and speaker means D. U

It will be understood that the chassis B is adapted to serve as mounting means for the rec- 0rd carrying and reproducing devices which, generally considered, cooperate to translate the ir- 50 regularities or impulses recorded in the sound track of a record into mechanical vibrations and to convert those mechanical vibrations into electrical impulses. Those electrical impulses may then be supplied to the amplifier means C and, as

after amplification, they may be converted into sound by the speaker means D.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5,- the chassis B in-.- cludes a mounting panel E, commonly referred to as a motor board, having an aperture F therein, and carries above the mounting panel a turntable G; record playing or reproducer means H;

a record carrier supporting or mounting assembly I; a plurality of pivoted, ring shaped record carriers or trays J arranged one above another in column or stack relationship and swingable to and from cooperative relationship with the turntable G; and members K and L providing individual supports for each record carrier J at the end thereof opposite the mounting assembly I; when the record carrier in in its position of cooperation with the turntable and when it is in stack.

' Below the mounting panel E, the chassis B, as

will be seen by reference to Figs. 1, 2, 4, and '6,

carries a master cam M; driving means N for driving the cam M; turntablerotating means 0 engaging a shaft P that carries at its upper end the turntable G and that is movable as indicated at Q (Fig. 2) toward and away from the 'reproducer means H; a reciprocable slide R having a cam follower S and a turntable reciprocating arm T; cam operable reproducer return means U for returning the reproducermeans H to its starting position upon the completion of the playing of a record; and various control devices which have been generally designated by the reference characters W, X, Y, and Z. I

Phonographs of the class to which this inven tion relates, are usually, but not necessarily, controlled by coin operated means controlled, as shown in Fig. 7, by a slidable coin freed receiver 3! for delivering a coin to a coin slide or chute 32. That coin operated means comprises a switch arm 33 swingable about its pivot 34, when engaged by a coin in the slide 32, whereby to close switch contacts 35. The contacts 35 control an electrical circuit including a suitable source 35 of electrical energy, and the control device W, which may be an electromagnet adapted to operate a pawl 31 for operating a ratchet 38 of the control device K. A pin or stud 39 on the ratchet 38 normally engages a switch operating arm H for holding switch contacts 42 open. When the ratchet 38 is operated by the pawl 31, the pin. 39 releases the switch operating arm 4| permitting the contacts 42 to close. The turntable rotating 'means 0 is thereby connected in circuit with a suitable source of electrical energy, diagrammatically illustrated at 43, which energizes the turntable rotating means 0 to cause it to rotate the turntable G.

When the contacts 42 are thus closed by the operation of the control means W, they also connect the cam driving means N in circuit with the source 43 of energy through normally closed switch contacts 44 of the control device Z. The master cam M is thereby rotated, which causes the rotation of its shaft 45 on which the cam M is fixed and also the rotation of a. notched disc 45 of the control device Z. The rotating master cam M by engaging the cam follower Sraises the reciprocable slide R which carries with itthe turntable reciprocating arm T, whereby to raise the rotating turntable G. If one of the record carriers J is in the position of cooperation with the turntable, the turntable during its last described movement passes through the carrier J and removes therefrom the record. The turntable continues its movement to bring the record into playing engagement with the record reproducer means H.

When the master cam M has rotated sufficiently to bring the turntable G into playing position, the cam shaft 45 has rotated the notched disc 46 until the notch therein registers with a switch operating arm 4'5 which permits the normally closed switch contacts 44 of the control device Z to open whereby to open the circuit including the cam driving means N. The cam M thereupon ceases to rotate and the reproducing means H plays the record on the turntable G.

In playing the record, the reproducer means H swings inwardly toward the center of the record being played on the turntable, thus rotating a shaft 48 (Figs. 4 and 7) connected with the reproducer means H and drivingly engageable with a notched disc 49 carried on the shaft 48. That notched disc 49 constitutes a part of the control device Y and has an operating projection 5i thereon which, during the rotation of the shaft 48 by the playing movement of the reproducer means H, swings toward the reproducer return means U.

-When the playing of the record is completed by the reproducer means H, the shaft 48 has rotated the notched disc 49 of the control device Y until the projection 5! is adjacent the reproducer return means U and the notch in the disc 49 registers with a. switch operating arm 52 controlling normally open switch contacts 53. Upon registration of the switchoperating arm 52 with the notch in the disc 49 of the control device Y, the normally open switch contacts 53 close, thereby again connecting the cam driving means N in circuit with its energy supply source 43 and again causing it to rotate the master cam M and its shaft 45.

When the rotation of the master cam M is thus resumed, the' cam follower S engaging in the cam track, and the slide R carrying the follower S are moved by the cam in a direction to cause the turntable reciprocating arm T to move the turntable G away from the reproducer means H and back through the positioned record carrier J whereby to deposit the played record thereon.

Meanwhile, and after the played record has thus arm 52 in a direction to open the switch contacts 53. The opening of the switch contacts 53 does not, however, result in the stopping of the cam driving means N for the reason that before they have been opened, the rotation of the master cam M and its shaft 45 has caused the rotation of the notched disc 46 of the control device Z sufllciently to move the notch in that disc out of registration with the switch operating arm 41. During that rotation of the disc 46 the periphery of the disc has, before the opening of switch contacts 53, cammed the switch operating arm 41 in a direction to close the switch contacts 44 whereby the circuit including the energy source 43, the cam driving means N,-the switch contacts 44, and the switch contacts is reestablished.

The cam driving means N therefore continues driving the master cam M, its shaft-45, and the notched disc 46. When the rotating mastercam M has completed its movement of the follower S the slide R, and the turntable reciprocating arm T in moving the turntable G away from the playing position,a pinor stud 55 (Fig. 6) on the notched disc 46 of the control device Z engages a reciprocable pawl 56 adjacent the ratchet 38 and moves the pawl 56 against the action of a spring 51. As soon as the notched disc 46 is rotated sufliciently for the pin 55 to disengagethe reciprocable pawl 56, the spring 51 moves the pawl 56 in a direction to operate the ratchet 38 whereby the pin 39 on the ratchet engages the switch operating arm ll and operates it to open the switch contacts 42. That opening of the switch contacts 42 interrupts not only the circuit including the cam driving means N but also that including the turntable rotating means 0, whereupon the foregoing cycle may be repeated, if desired, by, subsequent operations of the coin operated means.

In accordance with the present invention, the

record carriers J are pivoted on a post 58 be-- tween-successive discs 59 in the mounting assembly'I. Each record carrier has an arm or projection 6| extending beyond' the peripheries of the discs 59 at the side of the assembly I opposite the record carriers proper. The arms 6| cooperate with releasable record carrier locking means for releasably locking each record carrier in stack position.

Releasably locking record carriers in stack For releasably locking the record carriers in stack, I form the outer end of each arm 6| with a pair of opposed, spaced shoulders 62 and 63, and eachdisc 59 with a shoulder 64. A latch member 65 is pivoted as at 66 on each arm 6| outwardly of the discs 59 and comprises a platelike member formed with a finger 61 extending inwardly of the assembly I-at the level of the disc 59 upwardly adjacent the arm 6|, and a finger 68 extending outwardly of the assembly I at one side of the pivot 66. At the other side of the pivot 66, each plate-like latch member 65 is formed with a. depending flange 69 having a finger 1| adapted to extend into the space between successive discs 59. A coil spring 12 seating at one end in a socket 13 in the shoulder 62 and at its other end against the depending flange 69, which may be provided with a spring retaining stud 19, is adapted yieldably to hold the latch member 65 in a position at which the finger 61 interlockingly engages the disc shoulder 66 of the next upper disc 59 for releasably locking the corresponding record carrier instack.

Record carrier releasing means Each finger 61 is provided with a depending portion 15 which extends beyond the end of the finger into the space between successive discs 59 and at its other end is formed at an angle to provide a laterally extending finger 16. The fingers 16 are selectively operable by a selector 11 carried at an end of a rockable and longitudinally reciprocable shaft 18 slidably journaled as at 19 in a selector control frame V suitably secured to the front of the chassis B as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The selector 11 is of plate-like construction having a cam surface 8| and secured as at 82 on the outer end of an arm 83 rockable with the shaft 18.

Upon operation of the selector 11, the cam surface 8| is adaptedto engage the finger 16 of one of the latch members 65 and to cam the latch member about the pivot 66 in a direction of movement yieldably opposed by the spring "to disengage the finger 61 and the shoulder 64. When any latch member 65 is thus released, the angularity of its finger 16 and the shape of the cam surface 8| cause the record carrier arm 6| carrying the released latch member 65to swing about the pivot post 58 a distance suflicient to cause the end of the finger 61 to engage against the arcuate edge portion 84 of the disc 59 whereby the corresponding record carrier is free and may be swung about the pivot post 58 to and from its position of alignment with the turntable.

Engagement between the edge portion 84 and the finger 61 holds the released latch member 65 in released position during the swinging of the record carrier.

Record carrier swinging means The record carrier swinging means comprises a swingable yoke-like member 85 having an arm 86 fixed on an end of the pivot post 58 at one end' of the assembly I and extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom beyond the peripheries of the discs 59; a channel shaped, record carrier swinging member 86' with spaced parallel channel legs. 81 and 88 extending alongside and outwardly of the assembly I, which the channel member 86 faces; an offset portion 89 beyond the end of the assembly I opposite the arm 86 and extending from the channel member 86 inwardly of the assembly I and parallel to and spaced from the panel E; and an. angular connecting member having a leg 92 connected to the inner end of the offset portion 89 and extending therefrom through the aperture F, and a leg 93 connected at one end to the leg 92 and extending therefrom to the pivot post 58' to which it is secured as shown at 94 in Fig. 20.

Normally while the record carriers J are in stack position, the yoke-like member 85 is in such a position that the channel leg 81 is spaced slighta clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 19, for

swinging the record carrier to a delivery position.

Loosely secured on the post 58 adjacent the angle leg 99 is a bell crank lever having a leg 95 provided with a cam roller or follower 96 depending therefrom into a cam groove 91 on the master cam M, and with a pair of spaced upstanding lugs 98. Each lug 98 carries an adjustable spring mounting screw 99 for cooperating with one of a pair of sockets |8| in opposite sides of a'crank arm N32 to carry a coil spring I93, the crank arm |82 being connected to the angle leg 93. As the cam Mis rotated the cam groove 91 operates the leg 95 and thereby the crank arm |92 to oscillate the yoke-like member 85 whereby the channel leg 81 will cooperate with the finger 68 of any released latch member 65 to swing the corresponding record carrier toward the path of the turntable and the channel leg 88 will cooperate with the shoulder 63 of the record. carrier arm to swing that record carrier away from the path of the turntable and toward the stack of record carriers, The bell crank lever just mentioned has another leg I04 provided with a cam surface I05 engageable by a cam stud or follower I06 on the master cam M for moving the bell crank lever to move the cam follower 96 by a substantially dead center position H11 in the cam groove 91.

When a record carrier has been swung to its position of alignment with the turntable, it is held in that position by the engagement between the finger 68 and the channel leg 81 of the yoke member 85. The holding of the record carrier in that position is effected by the engagement of the cam follower 96 in the cam groove 91 whereby the springs I03 serve as resilient stops for the crank arm I02. The spring mounting screws 99 may be adjusted to adjust the record carrier in delivery position to alignment with the turntable.

Selector rocking means For rocking the selector TI whereby to release one of the latch members 65, the selector shaft I8 is provided with a keyway I 08 extending longitudinally thereof for cooperation with any suitable keying rneans N9 of a cam lever IN on the shaft 13. The cam lever III is secured against reciprocable movement therewith at a level slightly above the master cam M by a bracket I I2 secured as at M3 to the selector control frame V. The keyway Hi8 and the keying means I09 permit the shaft 18 to reciprocate longitudinally thereof relativeto the cam lever ill, and provide a driving connection between the cam lever and the shaft, whereby the shaft may he rocked about its longitudinal axis when the cam lever is operated.

The cam lever fill has a cam surface lid engage-able by the cam follower W5 and a stud or pin 355 on the cam M, after the follower Milt has caused the follower {it to move beyond the posi tion it? in the cam groove 9?,for rotating the shaft 33 in a direction to cause the selector ill? to release one of the latch members fit as already described, and a contiguous cam surface lit for permitting the cam lever i ii and the shaft T8 to rotate in the opposite direction after the pin H5, in rotating with the cam M, has moved beyond the cam surface lid.

Selector reciprocating means A reciprocable plate-like slide member ii? is provided with a plurality of bifurcated lugs SIB at its opposite sides for slidably engaging the opposite faces of a pair of spaced guide rails I 59 suitably secured to rearwardly projecting studs 25 of the selector control frame V. The rear,

face of the slide plate II? is formed with an outstanding transverse rib I22 at one side of a rectangular aperture I23 in the plate Ill and a pair of spaced lugs I2t at the other side of the aperture l23 to facilitate rotatably securing the selector shaft It to the slide plate III.

,In securing the selector shaft 18 to the slide plate I H, the lower end of the shaft is positioned between the lugs [it in such a manner that an arm I25 fixed on the shaft is positioned between the rib I22 and the lugs I24 and extends into the aperture I23 in the slide plate, whereby the shaft and slide plate will reciprocate together. The arm I25 is rockable with the shaft 18 and, during the rotation of the shaft for operating the selector ll to release a latch member 65, the outer or free end of the arm swings through the aperture I23 to a position forwardly of the slide plate II! for a purpose which will be described presently. If desired a strap Q26 may be bridged between the rear ends of the spaced lugs I24 for retaining the lower end of the selector shaft between the lugs, I

For reciprocating the slide plate III whereby to reciprocate the selector shaft I8, the slide plate is provided with a cam roller or follower I21 projecting rearwardly from its rear face. The roller i2? is adapted to cooperate with a cam shaped rail I 28 which is preferablyintegral with the barrel cam M (otherwise like that disclosed in my said application, Serial No. 22,701), and is carried peripherally outwardly thereof by a radial arm I29 and a turntable raising rail I3I of the cam M.

The cam rail I28 is provided with arise portion I32, a dwell portion I33 following the rise portion, and a relatively abrupt drop portion I34 following the dwell portion. After the turntable has been lowered and while the record carrier is being returned to stack by the cam M, the rise portion I32 is adapted to raise the slide plate I" and the selector shaft I8 sufllciently to move the selector '11 above the level of the uppermost latch member, releasing finger it, where the selector is normally held during inoperative periods of the phonograph by engagement between the cam follower H1 and the dwell portion I33. Upon starting the phonograph, the drop portion I34 of the cam rail I28 permits rapid and silent lowering of the cam follower I 27 and hence the slide plate ill, the selector shaft 58, and the selector ll before the selector Tl is rotated in a latch member releasing direction by the rollers or pins Hi6 and H5 and the cam lever ill.

Selector control The selector control comprises operable means for stopping the selector l? at the elevation of a desired latch member releasing finger H6, automatieally operating means for restoring the operable means during the operation of the latch member releasing finger it by the selector ll at that elevation, automatically operating means for supporting the selector at that elevation after the operable means is restored, and the selector frame V including the selector shaft journal '59 and the lugs i2! and, as already explained, suitably secured to the main frame B.

As operable means for stopping the selector TI at the elevation ofa desired latch member, releasing finger 55, a horizontally pivoted plate i35 is swinga'bly carried at the upper end of the slideplate ill by upstanding arms are at opposite ends of the plate I35, pivoted to upstanding lugs 53? at opposite sides of the slide plate III. A depending finger H8 at the rear side of the plate 335 is engageable with the upper portion of the slide plate II? for limiting the rotation of the plate 335 in onendirection.

A plurality of reciprocable rods I39, one for each record carrier J, are reciprocable one or more at a time to and from a position in the path of the pivoted plate I35 as that plate moves with the slide plate II'l'. -Each rod I39 intermediate its ends is provided'with three spaced flanges I4 I, M2, and M3 and the rear end of eacl1 ,rod is inserted through an aperture 54% in a rectangular plate I45 until the flange Hill has passed through that aperture, whereupon each rod is moved bodily transversely of .theplate 145 into a smaller aperture M8. in the plate adjacent the aperture I it, and providing a bayonet type of aperture therewith. The rods are slidable' in that position between positions of engagement between the rear face of the plate I45 and the flange I4! and between the front face of the plate I45 and the flange I42.

For each rod I39, there is an aperture I41 in a front selector frame member I48 and that aperture I41 is enlarged as at I49 rearwardly of the front face of the frame member I48 to provide aninternal shoulder II. The rods I39 assembled to the plate I45 may be inserted in the respective enlarged portions I49 of the apertures I41 and moved forwardly until the flanges I43 abut the shoulders I5I. In that position the forward ends of the rods I39 extend forwardly of the selector frame member I48 to provide push buttons for operating the rods. The plate is movably carried rearwardly of the frame member I48 by pins I52 projecting forwardly from the plate at its corners and slidably receivable in sockets I53 in the frame member I48. A coil spring I54 is placed on each pin I52 between the plate I45 and the frame member I48 for yieldably holding the plate spaced rearwardly of the frame member I48 and between the flanges MI and I42 01 the respective rods I39. A spring urged pin I55 extends into each enlarged portion I49 of each aperture I41 between the flanges I42 and I43 for limiting the reciprocable movement of the rods I39.

The rods I39 may be individually moved into the path of the pivoted plate I35 by pushing them inwardly of the frame member I48. For restoring the rods to theirouter positions, I provide a cancellation rod I56 which has a flange portion I51 reciprocable in a passage I58 in the frame member I48 and which has a shank portion I59 extending forwardly through an aperture I6I outside and forwardly of the frame member I48 where the'shank portion is equipped with an operating push button handle. The shank portion I59 is engageable with one end of a lever I62 which is'pivoted intermediate its ends as at I63 in a rectangular aperture I64 in and longitudinally of the frame member I48 and which has another end securedas at I66 to and centrally of the plate I45. When the cancellation rod I56 is pushed inwardlyit pivots the lever I 62 causing the lever through the connection. I66 to move the plate I45 forwardly against the action of the springs I54 whereby the plate I45 will engage the flange I42 of any operated rod or rods I39 and return it or them to the outer position. Upon release of the cancellation rod, the springs I 54 return the plate I45 to its initial position causing the plate through the connection I56 to restore the lever" I62 and the cancellation rod I56 to their initial positions.

A plurality of the rods I89 may be moved si multaneouslyinto the path of the pivoted plate I35-by pushing outwardly on a pin I6! slidably carried in an aperture I68 in the frame member I48 and extending rearwardly therefrom through an aperture I69 in the plate I45 into the path of the pivoted plate I55. The aperture I55 cornmunicates with a transverse slot I II in the frame member I98, which in turn communicates with the aperture I64. The pin I51 is provided with a projection I12 which in the slot I? I extends into and transversely of the aperture I88 and'which is reciprocable with the pin I61. The projection I12 is engageable with one end of a lever I113 pivoted as at I14 in the lower end of the aperture I64 and having an end I'I5engageable with the lower end'of the lever I62.

Whenthepin I 6 is'pushed outwardly, thepro jection I12 engages the lower end of the lever I13 and pivots the lever causing the upper end I15 to engage the lower end of the pivoted lever Thus the lower end of the lever I62 is moved inwardly about its pivot I63 against the action of a spring I16. The inward movementof the lower end of the lever I62 through the connection I66 moves the plate I45 inwardly, causing the plate to engage the flanges I4I of the push rods I39 and to move the push rods into the path of the pivoted plate I35. When the pin I61 is released, it is returned to its initial position by the action of the spring I16 on the lever I62 and through that lever to the upper end I15 of the lever I13.

As the slide plate II1 moves upwardly, the pivoted plate I35 will engage the innerendor ends ofany of the rods I39 which may have been pushed inwardly as described above, and will be swung downwardly from a horizontal position by such engagement. To assure its return to the horizontal position at which the finger I38 engaging with the upper endof the slide plate II1 serves as a limiting stop, I prefer to mount the cam follower I21 on a depending arm I11 of a bell crank lever. That bell crank lever is pivoted as at I18 on the inner face of the slide plate 1 and has another arm I19 pivotally connected to a bar I8I which is reciprocably secured to the rear face of the slide plate II1 by a pin I82 passing through an elongated aperture I83 in the bar I8I and into the slide plate. The upper end of the bar I8! is turned outwardly into the space between the slide plate I I1 and the pivoted plate I35 to provide a horizontal arm I84. As the slide plate is m'oved upwardly the rise portion I32 of the cam rail I28 so engages the cam follower I21 as to hold the bell crank lever in a position at which the arm I84 permits the downward swinging of the pivoted plate I35 when it engages one of the operated rods I39. As the follower I21 starts down, the drop portion I34 cams it about the pivot I18 causing the arm I19 of the bell crank lever to raise the bar I8I until the horizontal arm I84 levels the pivoted plate I35.

Thus, when the slide plate M1, and hence the selector, are moving downwardly, the pivoted plate I35 is in a horizontal position and the plate I35 will engage and will be arrested by which ever rod I39 that is operated, or by the uppermost operated rod I39, if more than one of them has been operated. Such stopping of the plate I35 stops the downward movement of the slideplate III, thus stopping the selector 11 at the elevation of the latch member, releasing finger 18 controlling the record carrier 'corre sponding to the effective push rod I39. If none of the rods I39 has been operated, the plate I35 in'its downward movement will be stopped just above the pin I61 at the lower end of the travel of the slide plate III.

For automatically restoring each rod I99 to its outer or non-selecting position after it has been effective to stop the selector at the desired elevation,'1 pivot as at I85 a plate I86 at its lower end to forwardly extending lugs I81 at opposite sides of the forward face of the slide plate II'I. That plate I86 extends upwardly along the slide plate to the upper end thereof, where the plate is provided with a forwardly extending, ledge or other projection I88 spaced below the pivoted plate I85 such a distance that when the plate I85 engages upon a rod I89, the. projection I88 is at the same level as the end of the rod and isengageable therewith when the plate I86 swung forwardly about its pivot "I85. At the lower end of its travel with the slide plate III, the projection W9 is engageable with the pin Idi. The plate I86 is provided with a rectangular aperture I89 which registers with the rectangular aperture I23 in the slide plate III and which is covered by a strip i9! resiliently secured on the forward face of the plate It? by the pin-and spring constructions illustrated at I92 in Fig. 15. Just below the strip I9I the plate its is resilientlysecured to the slide plate III by a shouldered pin I93 passing through apertures Hit and I95 in the respective plates Ill and Itt and a coil spring I99 on the pin forwardly of the plate IE6 between a fixed abutment I97 at the forward end of the pin and a slidable abutment I98 adjacent the plate I89.

Rotation of the selector shaft I8 in a direction to move the selector III for operating a latch member, releasing finger It causes the arm I25 at the lower end of the selector shaft to swing through the registering apertures I29 and I99 in the slide plate III and the plate ltd into engagement with the resiliently held strip I9I and to swing the plate I93 forwardly about its pivot I against the action of the spring I9t. The forward swinging of the plate I86 causes the projection 588 at the upper end thereof to engage the inner end of any rod 39 on which the pivoted plate I35 is resting and to move that rod I39 for= wardly out of the path of the pivoted plate I35, or as the case may be, to engage the inner end of the pin I6? and to move that pin in a direction to move a plurality of the rods I39 into the path of the pivoted plate I35. The spring I96 is adapted automatically to return the plate I86, the arm I25, and the selector shaft It! to their initial positions.

For supporting the selector at any of its elevations after the rod I39 is thus restored and until the selector is subsequently actuated by the cam rail I29, I form a rack I99 along an edge of one of the guide rails 9, a cam surface 21 at the upper end of the rack I99, and a cam surface 202 at the lower end of the rack I99 terminating at a shoulder 293 at the edge of the guide rail. Cooperating with the rack is a reciprocable pawl 2M slidably mounted on the rear face of the slide plate I II by the pins I82 and I93 passing through elongated apertures 295 and 206, respectively, in the pawl. A spring 20? resiliently urges the pawl toward engagement with the rack I99. The pawl is provided with a slot 208 at its lower side for releasable engagement with a finger 209 of a spring urged lever 2i I. That lever 2 is pivoted as at 2I2 on the forward face of the pivoted plate I86 in such a position that the finger 209" extends rearwardly through an aperture 2I3 in the plate I86 and an aligned aperture 2 in the slide plate III.

During the elevation of the slide plate ,I I1, the selector shaft, and the selector, the pawl slides over the teeth of the rack I99. At the upper position of the slide plate I I1, the pawl 2M engages the cam surface 2M and is cammed longitudinally to a position at which the slot 298 registers with the finger 299 of the spring urged lever 2| I. The finger 209 thereupon springs rearwardly into the latching engagement in the slot 298 for holding the pawl in that position, where it will be seen by reference to Fig. 9 that the pawl is beyond the extremities of the teeth of the rack I99.

During the lowering of the slide plate I II the pawl 204 does not therefore engage the rack I 99.

When the pivoted plate I is, however, swung rearwardly, as already described, for restoring the rod I39 which is engaging the plate I 35., the lever ill I moves rearwardly, disengaging the pawl 2M, whereupon the spring 29? draws the .pawl 296 into supporting engagement with the rack I99 whereby to hold the slide plate III, the selector shaft, and the selector in their respective posi= tions after the rod I33, which has been effective to arrest them in those positions, is restored.

Operation In the normal non-playing position of the novel phonograph, the record carriers J are in stack; the turntable G is down; the reproducer H is in the starting position shown in Fig. 5; the slide plate In is raised to such an elevation that the selector TI is at a level above that of the uppermost finger I6 and the pawl 29% has been cammed out beyond the teeth of the rack I 99 where it is latched by the finger 209 engaging in the slot 298; and. the cam followers I06 and H5 are in the positions shown in Fig. 4.

As already explained, the phonograph may be started by the operation of the token or coin operated apparatus 3!, 32 upon the insertion therein of one or more tokens or coins depending upon whether one or more records are to be played. The rods I39 may be operated before or after the operation of the apparatus M, 32. Thus one or more rods I39 are moved inwardly into the path of the pivoted plate I95, that is to say, to the selecting position. When the control apparatus 3!, 32 is operated, the driving means N is energized to cause the rotation of the master cam M carrying the cam followers I06 and II 5, and the driving means 0 is energized --to rotate the turntable G.

The drop portion I3 of the cam rail I28 cooperating with the cam followers I21 lowers the slide plate II! and with it the selector shaft I8 w and the selector 'II until the pivoted plate I35 engages on the uppermost rod I39 which has been moved to the selecting position. If no rod I39 is in selecting position, or if the rod I39 corresponding to the lowermost record carrier J is in selecting position, the slide plate In is lowered to its lowermost position. In that manner, the slide plate I I1 is brought to rest with the selector II at the level of the latch member, releasing finger I6 corresponding to the rod I39 engaged by w I the pivoted plate I35 and to the record carrier J releasably latched in stack by the latch member controlled by that finger I6. When the slide plate III descends to its lowermost position, the

selector I1 is lowered to" the level of the lower- 55 most -latch member, releasing finger I6:

The cam followers I06 and 5 on the master cam M, after the positioning of the selector IT as just described, engage the cam lever III and thereby rock the selector shaft I8 sufliciently to m v cause the selector I1 to operate the latch mem- I39 which has arrested the slide plate I, the go selector shaft I9, and the selector II.

If none of the upper rods I39 has been moved to a. selecting position so that the slide plate IIII descends to its lowermost position, the rocking movement of the selector shaft It causes the selector to operate the latch member, releasing finger 16 corresponding to the lowermost record ca'rrier J to disengage that record carrier from the disc 59 and to engage it with the channel leg 81 of the swingable member 85. In addition, such rocking movement of the selector shaft 19 in its lowermost position causes the arm I25 to swing the plate I86 forwardly so that the projection I88 restores the lowermost rod I39, if it is in the selecting position, and operates the pin I61 for moving a plurality of the rods I39 to their selecting positions.

Upon the restoration of one of the rods I39 to its non-selecting position out of the path of the pivoted plate I35, as described above, the slide plate II1 does not lower the selector 11, for the reason that upon the forward swinging of the plate I86 to restore a rod I39 and/or to operate the pin I61, the finger 209 is withdrawn from the slot 208 in the pawl 204, which is thereupon moved into supporting engagement with the rack I99 by the spring 201. In that manner the slide plate II1, the selector shaft 18, and the selector 11 are latched at the elevations at which they were last effective until the rise portion I32 of the cam rail I28 next actuates the follower I21 to elevate the'selector 11 to its level above the uppermost finger 16. A

After the release of the selected record carrier J and after it is engaged with the swingable member 85, that member is swung in a delivery direction by the cam groove 91 in the rotating master cam M and the cam follower 96,whereby to swing the released record carrier to its delivery position in alignment with the rotating turntable G. The master cam M now actuates the cam follower S to raise the reciprocable slide R which carries with it the turntable raising arm T, whereby to raise the rotating turntable G through the selected record carrier J. Theturntable is thus raised to remove the selected record from the record carrier in alignment with the turntable and to present that record for playing by the reproducer means H. In that playing position the switch contacts 44 of the control device Z open, as already described, whereby to deenergize the cam driving means N and to cause the cam M to cease rotating.

When the reproducer means H in playing the record reaches the end of the record groove, the switch contacts 53 of the control device Y are closed, as already explained, whereby again to connect the cam driving means N in circuit with its energy supply source t3 and again to cause the driving means N to rotate the master cam M. When the cam M thus resumes its rotation, it actuates the cam follower S and the slide R to lower the turntable G. After the turntable has thus been moved away, from the reproducer means H, the reproducer return means U returns the reproducer means H to its starting position,

and the turntable deposits the played record on the record carrier from which it was originally removed and which has been held in the delivery position during the playing of the record by the engagement of the cam'follower 96 in the cam groove 91 of the master cam M.

After the played record is deposited on the record carrier, the cam groove 91 actuates the cam follower 96 to swing the swingable member 85 away from its delivery position. In thus swinging, the channel leg 88 of the swingable member 85 engages the shoulder 63 at the outer end of the arm III of the record carrier bearing the played record, and swings the arm in a direction to return the record carrier to the stack. In that position, the spring 12 operates the latch member 65 about its pivot 66 for releasably latching the record carrier to the disc 59.

During that return movement of the record carrier bearing the played record, the rise portion I32 of the cam rail I28 rotating with the master cam M engages the cam follower I21 on the slide plate III and raises the slide plate to a position at which the cam surface 2III of the rack I99 cams the pawl 204 longitudinally to its position beyond the extremities of the rack teeth. At that position of the pawl 204, the slot 298 in the pawl registers with the finger 269 of the spring urged lever 2H and the finger enters the slot to latch the pawl at the position at which it will not engage the teeth of the rack I99 until the plate I86 is again operated for restoring a rod I39 or for operating the pin I61 as already described. The slide plate I I1 is held in that raised position by the engagement of the cam follower I21 on the dwell portion I33 of the cam rail I28. In that position of the slide plate II1, the selector 11 is at its level above the uppermost, latch member releasing finger 16.

When the selector 11 has been elevated, as just described, after the return of the played record to stack, the pin 55 of the control device Z operates the pawl 56 against the action of the spring 51 and then disengages the pawl 56 whereupon the spring 51 operates the pawl to rotate the ratchet 38 of the control device X. The rotation of the ratchet 38 causes the pin 39 thereon to open the switch contacts .42 when the number of records corresponding to the number of tokens or coins inserted in the apparatus 3|, 32 has been played. If fewer than that number of records have been played, the foregoing cycle will be repeated until the switch contacts 42 are opened. Opening of the switch contacts 42 interrupts not only the circuit including the cam driving means N, but also that including the turntable rotating means whereby to stop the phonograph.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

carriers to and from cooperative relationship with said turntable, a reciprocable and rockable selector for operating the latching means, and means for operating said selector to release any said record carrier and to latch it to said record carrier swinging means.

2. A multi-record phonograph comprising record reproducer means, a turntable, a plurality of superposed, independently swingable record carriers cooperable' with said turntable for moving records to and from playing relation with said reproducer means, adjustable means for swinging said recordcarriers one at a time to and from cooperating relation with said tum- -table, said adjustable means including releasable playing relation with said record player, a swingdii 'ablemember, a plurality of latch members, one

for each record carrier, releasably latching said record carriers in superposed relation and individually operable to release therespective record carriers and to latch the same to said swingable member, a selector reciprocable alongside of said latch members and rockable at the position of any one of said latch members for operating the treme latch members, selector control means for stopping said selector at the position of any one of said latch members, and means for rocking said selector to operate that latch member.

4. A multi-recorclphonograph comprising a record player, a turntable, a plurality of superposed, pivoted record carriers cooperable with said turntable for moving records to and from playing relation with said record player, a swingable member, a plurality of latch members, one for each record carrier, releasably latching said record carriers in superposed relation and in-' dividually operable to release the respective record carriers and to latch the same to said swingable member, a selector reciprocable alongside of said latch members and rockable at the position of any one of said latch members for operating the same, cam means for moving said selector in one direction between the extreme latch members, cam means for permitting the movement of said selector in the opposite direction between the extreme latch members, selector contr ol means for stopping said selector at the position of any one of said latch members, means for rocking said selector to operate that latch member, and means for releasably latching said selector in any position at which it is stopped by said selector control means until the first said cam means begins moving said selector to an extreme latch member.

5.. In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of superposed, pivoted record carriers, and means for selectively ren-' dering said record carriers active for cooperation with said playing means, comprising a reciprocable, rockable selector pivoted to rock about its axis spaced from the pivotal axis of the record carriers, cam. means for reciprocating said selector, means for stopping said selector at a position corresponding toa predetermined record carrier, and means for rocking said selector about its said axis when stopped by the last said means.

6. In a multi-record phonograph, record playord carriers, and means for/selectively rendering said record carriers active for cooperation with said playing means, comprising a reciprocable, rockable selector, cam means for reciprocating said selector, means for stopping said selector at a position corresponding to a predetermined rec-.

ord carrier, means forrocking said selector when stopped by the last said means, and means for releasably latching said selector in any positon at which it is stopped by the stopping means.

7. In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of superposed, pivoted record carriers, and means for selectively rendering said record carriers active for cooperation with said playing means, comprising a reciprocable, rockable selector, cam means for reciprocating said selector, means for stopping said selector at a position corresponding to a predetermined record carrier, operable rocking means for said selector, operable latching means tor said selector, and means for operating said rocking means and said latching means to rock said selector when stopped by the stopping means and releasably to latch said selector in the stopped position.

.8. In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of superposed pivoted record carriers, a reciprocable rockable selector for rendering said record carriers active for cooperation with said playing means, cam means for reciprocating said selector, means for stopping said selector at a position corresponding to a predetermined record carrier, means for releasably latching said selector in a stop position, comprising a rack and pawl, resilient means urging said pawl in engagement with said rack, a cam surface at an end of the rack for releasing the pawl from engagement with the rack, a finger under spring tension for engaging said pawl and holding-it out of engagement with said rack, a cam means for releasing said finger from engagement with said pawl, and cam means for simultaneously rocking said selector and operating the first said, cam means.

9: In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality oi superposed pivoted record carriers, a reciprocable rockable selector for rendering said record carriers active for coopertion with said playing means, a plurality of selector rods for stopping said selector at a position corresponding to a predetermined record carrier, a floating plate having apertures through which the selector rods slidably pass, means on the selector rods at opposite sides of said floating plate for limiting-the relativemovement of the rods and the plate when such last said means engage with the plate, lever means to move said plate for engaging the means on the selector rods whereby to move any rod from a selecting position to a non-selecting position, and lever means automatically operable to move said plate for engaging with the means on the selector rods, whereby automatically and simultaneously to select a predetermined record carrier and to move a plurality of selector rods to selecting positions.

10. In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of superposed pivoted record carriers, 2. reciprocable rockable selector for rendering said record carriers active for cooperating with said playing means, and means for stopping the activating means at the selected record, comprising a plurality of selector rods movable to and from a selecting position, a sliding selector-plate for moving said selector, a pivoted ing means, a plurality of superposed, pivoted reclector rods in selecting position when the sliding plate is moving in selecting direction, and cam means for operating said sliding plate and for operating the last mentioned means to operate the pivoted plate.

1 1 1, In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of superposed pivoted record carriers, a reciprocable rockable selector for rendering said record carriers active for cooperating with said playing means, and means for stopping the activating means at the selected .record, comprising a plurality of selector rods movable to and from a selecting position, a sliding selector plate for moving said selector, a pivoted plate carried by said sliding plate, a movable arm for bringing said pivoted plate in a horizontal plane, a bell crank connected to said movable arm for engaging the arm with the pivoted plate when the crank is at one end of its arc of travel, and for disengaging said arm from the pivoted plate when said crank is at the other end of its arc of travel, cam means for swinging said bell crank to the engaging end of its arc of travel when the sliding plate is being moved in one direction, and for swinging the bell crank to the non-engaging end of its arc of travel when the sliding plate is being moved in the opposite direction.

12. In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of movable record carriers cooperable with said record playing means for changing records, a rockable, reciprocable selector for controlling the changing of records, means for controlling the operation of said selector comprising selector reciprocating means, a plurality of selector rods corresponding in number with the number of record carriers, means reciprocable with said selector and engageable with any said selector rod in its selecting position for predetermining the selecting position of said selector, means for rocking said selector in any selecting position for selecting a predetermined record carrier, and means movable by the rocking of said selector for returning the effective selector rod to its non-selecting position.

13. In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of movable record carriers cooperable with said record playing means for changing records, a rockable, reciprocable selector for controlling the changing of records, means for controlling the operation of said selector comprising selector reciprocating means, a plurality of selector rods corresponding in number with the number of record carriers, means reciprocable with said selector and engageable with any said selector rod in its selecting position for predetermining the selecting position of said selector,

means for rocking said selector'in any selecting position for selecting a predetermined record carrier, a pivoted plate movable with the selector for automatically returning the efiective selector rod from a selecting to a non-selecting position, cam means operable by the rocking of said selector for moving said pivoted plate to engagement with said effective selector rod and returning it to a non-selecting position, and resilient means for returning said pivoted plate to its initial position and for effecting the return rocking of said selector.

14. In a multi-record phonograph, record playing means, a plurality of movable record carriers cooperable with said record playing means for changing records, a rockable, reciprocable selector for controlling the changing of records, means for controlling the operation of said selector comprising selector reciprocating means, aplurality of selector rods corresponding in number with the number of record carriers, means reciprocable with said selector and engageable with any said selector rod in its selecting position for predetermining the selecting position of said selector, means for rocking said selector in any selecting position for selecting a predetermined record carrier, a pivoted plate movable with the selector for automatically returning the efiective selector rod from a selecting to a non-selecting position, cam means operable by the rocking of said selector for moving said pivoted plate to' engagement with said effective selector rod and returning it to a non-selecting position, resilient means for cooperating with said cam means in moving said pivoted plate, and resilient means of comparatively greater resiliency than the last said resilient means for re.- turning said pivoted plate to its initial position and for effecting a return rocking of said selector.

15. The combination in an automatic phonograph with record playing means, a plurality oi movable record carriers normally latched in nonplaying position, and a selector, for selectively playing a plurality of records one at a time, of means for reciprocating saidselector, a plurality of selector control rods movable to and from selecting positions, means reciprocable with said selector and cooperable with a selector control rod in its selecting position, for positioning said selector in a selecting position corresponding to the record carrier indicated by the cooperating selector control rod, operable means for rotating said selector in any selecting position in a direction to free the corresponding record carrier, means reciprocable with said selector and operable by the rotation thereof for moving the efiective selector control rod to its non-selecting position, and means on the last said means for automatically returning it to its initial position and rotating said selector in the opposite direction.

16. In an automatic phonograph having a plurality of coaxially mounted swingable record carriers arranged normally in stack relation, stationary means, a record swinging member ofchannel form, latching means pivotally carried by each carrier and disposed radially inwardly of said swinging member and each having means for releasably securing the respective carriers to said stationary means when such carriers are in stack relation, and a selector for swinging any of such latch means pivotally from latching engagement with said stationary means for effecting latching engagement of the same within the channel of said swingable means for effecting movement of said carriers by said swingable member from and to said stack relation.

1'7. A multi-record phonograph comprising a plurality of independently movable record carriers normally arranged in superposed relationship, record reproducer means, a turntable cooperable with said record carriers for moving records to and from playing relation with said reproducer means, means releasably latching said record carriers in superposed relationship, record carrier moving means for moving said record carriers to and from cooperative relationship with said turntable, a reciprocable and rockable selector for operating the latching means, and means for operating said selector to release any said record carrier and to latch it to said record carrier moving means.

18. A multi-record phonograph comprising'a record reproducer means, a turntable, a plurality e eaeee posed relationship, meane ior operating eaidzreleasable latching means to release a plurality. of said record carriers one at a time in a desired sequence, and means for adjusting said adjustable means to adjust the position to which a record carrier is moved for cooperating with the turntable.

PAUL H. SMYTH, JR. 

